Manchester Test: England Seek Repeat Win as India Ponder Options

Updated: 06 August 2014 08:32 IST

Victory by the huge margin of 266 runs in the third Test at Southampton last week saw England level the five-match series at 1-1. It also ended a run of 10 Tests without a win for Alastair Cook's side and saw the captain himself return to form with two fifties.

It also ended a run of 10 Tests without a win for Alastair Cook's side and saw the captain himself return to form with two fifties, although it could all have been so different had he been caught in the slips on 15 in the first innings.

"Now everyone knows what it's like (to win), the challenge is 'can we repeat that at Old Trafford, and try to win the series?'", said Cook.

England had another 'victory' less than a day after their Southampton success.

James Anderson escaped a ban after International Cricket Council code of conduct commissioner Gordon Lewis dismissed disciplinary charges brought against him by India following his alleged confrontation with Ravindra Jadeja during the drawn first Test in Nottingham.

Given the fast-medium bowler, man-of-the-match in Southampton with a return of seven for 77, is the series' leading wicket-taker with 16, England's relief was understandable.

While Moeen Ali produced a decisive second-innings return of six for 67 in Southampton to quieten talk regarding his 'part-time' off-spin, the performance of England's back-up seamers in support of Anderson and Stuart Broad was a concern.

The Middlesex fast bowler was sent home early from England's disastrous tour of Australia, having not featured in the 5-0 Ashes thrashing and been deemed "unselectable" by then one-day coach Ashley Giles after 'losing' his action.

Remedial work, designed to sort out run-up problems and a habit of knocking the stumps over with his right knee, under the guidance of Middlesex coach and England selector Angus Fraser, has seen the 6ft 7in Finn take 44 County Championship wickets at under 30 apiece so far this season.

The pitch at Old Trafford is known for being 'lively' and all-rounder Chris Jordan, with England having no need of his batting in Southampton after Cook declared twice, could lose his place to Finn after a poor bowling display last time out.

"It will depend on what England see in the pitch over whether Steven plays," Fraser told the Daily Telegraph.

"But is he bowling as well as when he played for England in the past. The answer is yes."

For India, the need to match Ali's threat could see off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin play his first Test this year in a bid to bolster an attack that looked a bowler 'light' at the Ageas Bowl.